Boria Majumdar
When the five-Test series began at Headingley in June, Akash Deep was not part of India’s first- choice pace attack. But with Jasprit Bumrah sitting out the Edgbaston Test, he came in and took a ten-wicket haul to help clinch a famous victory. Later, with India needing to win at The Oval for a share of the spoils, he struck a crucial second-innings 66 and chipped in with the vital wicket of Ben Duckett to play his part in a memorable triumph. After returning to India, he spoke exclusively to Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, on his experiences during the tour and what lies ahead.
Boria: Tell me something about your 66 runs at The Oval.
Akash Deep: If we look at the matches we played, with the exception of one or two matches, the lower order was not making much runs overall. It’s very crucial that the lower order – No. 9, 10, 11 – add at least 25-30 runs for the team to do well. When I was sent as a nightwatchman, I wanted to use that opportunity and stay there for as long as possible. That was the only plan for the good of my team. In the morning, when I found them frustrated, I realised I can make some runs here too.
Boria: The beautiful boundary that brought up your 50, did it happen by chance or was it planned?
Akash: I saw a chance that if the ball was down the legside, and it went up in the air, there was no fielder, so we could get a boundary there. The plan was that if the ball was in the leg-stump area, I would hit it in the air. The shot got mistimed a bit.
Boria: Tell us a bit about Birmingham. Was Edgbaston the best that you have ever bowled?
Akash: Yes, you can say that for sure, but there was no special mindset behind this. I was playing after long, so wanted to bowl in those areas. There was a big gap after Australia, and I had only been playing practice matches, so that was one of the pressures I had. But I kept my mindset simple and just wanted to bowl for long in those areas. And as a fast bowler, if one gets a wicket early, then confidence automatically goes up.
Boria: Tell me a bit about that Jamie Smith spell, although you didn’t get any wicket in that one. The way you were making the ball move was much better than even English fast bowlers according to English commentators as well.
Akash: My confidence in that match was very high and I wanted to give full effort from the beginning. Because at the start, they either look to make runs or are not comfortable enough. So I wanted to pitch the ball in the right areas and take advantage of the batsmen when they were new. There wasn’t any set plan to make the ball swing. I was concentrating on the areas to bowl. The ball was moving so much that it wasn’t easy for them.
Boria: Ten wickets, man of the match. Tell me a bit about the feeling after the match?
Akash: Individual performance didn’t matter to me. What mattered was that I was able to make my country win with those 10 wickets. If it’s a winning contribution, then I get a lot of satisfaction from it, no matter which team I am playing for. So, 10 wickets that led to the team winning the match would be something very memorable in my life.
Boria: What was the mindset like when the team took the field on the last day [at The Oval]?
Akash: We were bowling on the second day when the wicket was not much help and there was no movement. Our belief was that England is such a team where if you can break partnerships and take 1-2 wickets, then they give you wickets in bunches, and come under pressure. The way they were playing, I felt it would have been very stressful for them to bat under pressure and win the match from there. So, our plan was to just bowl in the right areas and they were under pressure. So, overall it worked out.
Boria: Tell us a bit about what the discussion was like in the Indian dressing room with England being 301-3, and target 374.
Akash: Yes, it was intense and there was pressure. But I guess that pressure made us aggressive and the game turned out to be good for us. The pressure helped us focus and notice what was going on better. The crowd played a big part in the evening, as it totally changed – cheering for us after cheering for England before that. After playing for so long, the body was very tired but the crowd’s energy gave us a lot of enthusiasm.
Boria: What about your bowling partner, Mohammed Siraj?
Akash: Playing continuously for five Test matches, and so much effort till the last match is really commendable, and everyone has witnessed that. So much effort was bound to bring a positive result.
Boria: Was Siraj doing something different this time or is it the best that you have seen him bowl?
Akash: Given how much I have seen him play, I cannot say this was the best, but he definitely had a different mindset. He wanted us to keep believing that we were going to do it. He gave us constant confidence that we would take wickets. In Test matches sometimes, the confidence goes down because we cannot apply T20 tactics, but Siraj kept showing us a positive, confident body language even in those times when the way forward was unknown.
Boria: A lot has being talked about that wicket of Ben Duckett and that send-off.
Akash: Yes, I had already got him out a few times by then, but the way he was batting, I was also a bit confused which areas to bowl to him. He told me: “You cannot take my wicket in this innings”, and then got out to my bowling. That was what I was telling him during the send-off, that “sometimes you miss, I hit”.
Boria: How was the team atmosphere and change room with Shubman Gill as the captain?
Akash: Good, very good. He has been captain with Gujarat Titans for some time now, and the IPL is one of the tough competitions in the world. So, he already had all the captaincy ideas. He anyways is very calm and composed, and understands stuff, so it’s fun to be with him as a captain. First tour with a new captain could have been tough, but it didn’t feel anything like that with him.
Boria: And what about the change room? Gautam and the impact?
Akash: It feels very good and comfortable to be in Indian dressing room with these people, and it gives me a sense of pride. It might look like a pressure-filled atmosphere from outside, but once you are inside that change room, the atmosphere is very good.
Boria: How was the celebration like, back in England, because the team didn’t stay back for too long? Also, how was the celebration when back in India?
Akash: The intensity we had on the ground was in itself a celebration for us. We were there for two months and everyone had to leave for different places, so there was no party as such – just cake-cutting back in the hotel. The way we won it in front of our supporters and crowd, and celebrated with a victory lap – that was the biggest party for us.
Boria: Talk a bit about the emotion when that last wicket fell?
Akash: Yes, as the target was getting closer, heartbeat obviously was getting faster. When there is nothing in your hands to control the game, because you are not batting or bowling and just fielding, it gives rise to increased heart-rate for sure. But the fun of winning such matches is also amazing. It takes your confidence much higher, and that match I feel is the best of all the Test matches I have played.
Boria: Have you started thinking about the series against South Africa at home?
Akash: I just believe in improving myself, as selection and all is not in my hands. I know I have two months’ time, and I need to up my game skill-wise, and mentally as well.
Boria: Say something in Bengali for all your fans?
Akash: Asonkhya dhonyabaad sobaike (Thank you, everyone). The way I have been loved while playing for Bengal, I feel like Bengal is my first home. Everyone from CAB members to official staff to canteen staff – I have been loved immensely when at Eden Gardens. Not sure if everyone gets this much affection, but I was lucky to receive this much love from Kolkata.
Boria: Thank you very much, Akash Deep, for joining me.
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Watch the full interview here
🚨 EXCLUSIVE
“It wasn’t about me, winning for India is what I’ll cherish forever” – Akash Deep.
In this exclusive conversation with @BoriaMajumdar, the Bengal pacer opens up on:
👉His mindset during that 10-wicket performance at Edgbaston
👉The crucial lower-order runs at… pic.twitter.com/FgYdlcsWhz
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) August 10, 2025